Key hanger support for key cases



Jan. 8, 1952 R. P. HARVEY K KEY HANGER SUPPORT FOR KEY CASES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18, 1946 Jan. 8, 1952 R p, HARVEY 2,582,033

KEY HANGER SUPPORT FOR KEY CASES Filed 001;. 18, 1946 flay 10. i

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 4} L 4. ATTORfi Jan. 8, 1952 R. P. HARVEY KEY HANGER SUPPORT FOR KEY CASES 55 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 18, 1946 w our INVENTOR fioazkr 269mm) ATTORN EYS and a bar member 8 integrally connected by spaced members 9 providing elongated slots l between them. The ends of the slots adjacent the plate member are enlarged at one side to form escape openings ll. At one end, the left as shown in Fig. 2, the bar member 8 is extended as at [2 and terminates in finger grip forming portion [3. The end of the plate 1, opposite finger'grip I3, is formed with a second finger grip forming portion Hi, the plate, adjacent portion [4, being preferably notched as at IE to a depth equal to the thickness of the metal.

Extending from the upper edge of bar 8 are a plurality of fingers [6, equal in number to the escape openings H and aligned therewith.

Plate member I is formed with openings I1 for receiving the rivets 3 by which the plate is secured to the case.

of the finger [6, the rounded head acts as a cam or wedge, when the loop is swung in the direction of the arrow, forcing the adjacent finger back to admit the head through the opening ll. Removal of the hanger requires operation by the finger grips since the fiat underside of the head presents no cam surface for wedgingthe adjacent finger to one side.

The shape of'the hanger head described has the further advantage that in use, as the hanger is moved back and forth in its slot the fiat underside of the head distributes the strain and wear over a substantial area rather than concentrating it on the edges of the slot as in the case of a round head. The metal of the supporting member may therefor be made relatively thin without danger ofthe head wearing its way through,

In forming the support the upper portion of the blank is rolled downwardly as shown in Fig. 5, the spaced members 9 forming a tube or cylinder, around which slots l0 extend, with the bar member 8 lying against the upper portion of plate member 1. The fingers l6 then extend across the escape openings H as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The finger pieces [3 and M are bent outwardly at right angles to the bar 8 and plate 1 respectively, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

As will be apparent the bar member 8 and the fingers iii are supported and held in position by the relatively narrow spaced members 9. The metal from which the blank is made is of a character or quality to have sufficient spring action so that, while normally holding the fingers in position to cover the escape opening, the members 9 will yield laterally enough to move the bar and its fingers axially of the tube to a reare uncovered.

The arrangement of the finger grips l3 and I4 provide an efficient means by which pressure maybe applied to move the bar and fingers to release position, as shown in Fig. 6. Itis only necessary considering a right handed user, to

are made from a piece of spring wire bent to form a key receiving loop portion [8, the end portions being brought together to form a shank portion l9. The free ends of the shank forming portions are provided, by swaging or other means, with enlarged head members which together form an enlarged head 2| of generally hemispherical shape with its fiat face 22 adjacent the shank.

Theshank I9 is of cross-sectional size to slide freely in the slots [9 while the head 21 is of a size to pass freely inwardly and outwardly through the openings II, when the latter are uncovered by transverse movement of the fingers [6, but not through the slots l0.

As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8 the loops may be inserted in the supporting member without recourse to the finger grips. By inserting the head edgewise into the slot with the rounded surface of the head against the edge of the adjacent member 9 and the shank against files 51.3%

. lease position in which the escape openings ll permitting a greater degree of springiness in the members 9.

Preferably the plate member 1 is extended as at 23 a distance at least equal to the degree of end'wise extension of portion l2 and grip l3 when the latter is bent forwardly. Thus as shown in Fig. 4, the side portions 5 of the cover, when folded over, first engage the rigid edge of extension 23 and the rigid finger grip ld minimizing the possibility of the accidental shifting of bar 8 by pull on the cover portions 5. However, as will be apparent, the bar can be intentionally operated even when the cover is cloed by pinch ing the grips through the flexible cover, in the manner previously described, to release a key and its hanger when extending in operative position from the'end of a closed case.

The modified form supporting member shown in Figs; 10, 11 and 12 is wholly similar to that previously described except that the lower por-' tions of plate 1 which carries the rivet holes is cut away. In this form the plate 1 is provided with fastening prongs 24 which when bent rearwardly as shown in Fig. 12 may be inserted through the case and bent over to secure the supporting member to the case. This form as is apparent from Fig. 11 presents a minimum of exposed metal and gives a light and neat appearance. It also reduces cost since less metal and no conventional rivets" are required. In Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive is shown a modified form in which the bar 8 is made as a separate piece 25 from the plate. The bar 25 carries closure fingers 26 similar to fingers I6 and finger grip 21 corresponding to grip l3 previously described. In addition bar 25 is provided with an endwiseear extension 28 formed with an opening129; The lower edge of the bar is provided with short tongue 30. The plate member 3| corresponds substantially to plate 1 previously described including relatively narrow members 32, forming slots 33 with escape openings 3 and a finger grip 35 entirely similar to members 9, slots i0, openings II and grip [4 of the previous forms. In addition finger grip 35 is formed witha tongue 36, and the upper edge of the blank is formed with a tongue 31.

Inassembling the supportthe tongue 31 is bent forwardly at right angles and the upper portion of the blank rolled downwardly into tubular form 38 as shown in Fig. 15.

Grip 21, extension 28 and tongue 30 of bar 25 are bent forwardly at right angles to the bar, and the bar positioned inside of the tube 38 between plate 3| and tongue 31, the latter being cut back sufiiciently as at '39 to accommodate the thickness of the bar'. Tongue 36 is cut back 9 h 1 9 wh ch fi er ip 3 is n l l. .Pinching .grips I21 and 35 'together moves the bar 25 to the right as viewed'in Fig. 16 against the action of the spring to shift ffing'ers 326 so as "to uncover the escape openings 34 permitting insertion .or removal of the key hangers Zifrom the support. Key ihangers maybe,"insertedwithout recourse to grips 21. and 35in the manner previously described. .Inlthe forms so 'far described the release openings -are sh'wn offset at the ends of j theffsljots. I

They may, however, be otherwise positioned if desired. The onset arrangement has "the-advantage that it minimizesthe extent of longitudinal movement of the barinecessaryto uncover the escape openings where. uncovering oi the openings is dependent entirely on such longitudinal movement. .It also has the advantage that the closure, when in closed position, does not "shorten'the efiective length of the slots.

The centering of the escape openings with I respect to "the 'slots is in -some cases desirable sinceftheholderthas' 'a'm'ore symmetrical appear ance'; While this can "be "done, as above pointed 'out,i-in the terms so "far described byincreasing the endwis'e travel of "the bar, there "is -shown in Figs. 171:0 -:20 inclusivega modified "arrangement of one piece construction in which the escape openings are ,centeredwith :respect to the slots but without substantial, if "any, increase "in I 'the extent of "endwise travel of "the bar "for 'release of "the key holders. I h

Fig. 1'7 shows theblankfrom which this modified Torm'is'made. It is 'generally'similar' to the blank shown in -Fig. 2 except in the *following features. It comprises a platemember 4| and a bar member 42 connected to the plate by spaced members 43 'forming slots 44. Escape openings are formed at one end "of each slot, these openings being *symmetri'calwith respect to the slots. In place of the "separate closure fingers 16, carried by the bar of the first and second forms described, "bar '42 is extended slightly as at 45. Finger grips 41 and 48, similar in atrangemen't and function to the grips of theme- 'vious -forms, extend respectively Trom"the'1eit hand end of bar "42 "and "the right nan-sender "plate 4|.

*At the *end ofthe extendingportion -46. adjacent grip 41, ash'or't 'cam' -'tongu e -49 'is formed and a similar cam tongueSil extends adjacent grip 48. The upper portion of'the blank is rolled downwardly to 'form a tubegenerally indicated at "5| to position portion 4B'of thebar across the entrance -'to slots -45 and normally bar entrance "of "the hangers into or through the escape openings 45, as shown in F'igsr 18 and '19.

The cam tongue 49 carried "by bar 46 -"ex'ter'iizl's beyoncl'the endoithe tube and'is b'ent outwardly as shown in Fig. 18 while cam tongue 50, carried by the plate and'which :also extends beyond the end of the tube, is bent inwardly. Grips -4'l' and '48 are bent-into the' position as shownin Figk18.

When grip 41 is pinched ltoward z'gr'ip 48 ithe ba'r 42 is moved endwise zfa'gainst the ispring.'.:oi :the

metal in members 43. .At the inception foiisuch movement or immediately thereafter seam 49 engages vthe:a'cliac'ent edge of the tube'while cam 50 is engaged by the adjacent end of the bar,

of the heads of -the 'key hangers as shown in Fig. 20. As will be "apparent 'from the latter figure the -hanger heads may be forced inwardly through the openings 45, without recourse to operation of the finger grips. By combining a component of generally radially inward move,- ment with the endwise movement of the bar, the symmetrically positioned openings 45 are unblocked without excessive endwise movement.

v In all of the one piece forms described the spring of the ,metalfrom which thesupport is ,made is utilized to resist movement of the closure to open position and to return it to closing position aftenit'hasbeenshifted. Given sufliciently stiff spring faction round headed hangers such as arejcommon in the prior art may satisfactorily be used with any of the described forms of this invention. HoWever. as previously pointed out, a hanger having a rounded or curved top surface and a lower. or under sup-port contacting'surface'which lies in a plane, provides increased security andwhen'lcombined with the other features of the invention permits the use of less spring resistance than is needed when aroundheadedhanger is used.

In all of the forms described the finger grips are spaced 'r'rom'the ends of the tube a distance substantially equal to theendwise movement of the bar; the grip 'carriedby the plate acting as a stop to'limit movement of the bar-in that .direction.

All of the forms permit release of the hangers by pinching one gripto'ward the other and pinch i'ng "maybe :eifected when'th'e case is closed, thus a key extending from the case may be easily'released while engagedin the lock of "a Idoor or 'the'ignition switch of an automobile.

As shown in Fig. 5 the under contacting sur i'iace of the head 'is continuous. Continuityoi 'the'undersurface, howevenis not-necessary and the advantages of the invention can 'besecured by an annular contacting surface so long 'asthe intervening portions bridge the slot. Since the areas or "points of contactof the head with the interior of the "tubular support are carried be- 'yond the edges of the slots Wear or both the head of thehan'gerand the-edges of the slots is reduced. This in "addition to-permitting thinner metal to be'used forthe support permits a lighter and "less expensive "hanger construction. As shown in Figs. 21 to '29 inclusive a satisfactory hanger may-:be 'blanked an'd shaped from a' length or metal ribbon. Fig.2 5 shows -'a suitably shaped blank, the size" being'greatlyexaggerated for clearness. The 'Iblan'k :of Fig. 25 comprises a- "loop formingportion'52 which is' the full width of the ribbon, narrowed shank forming portions '53 -'54 and-substantially semi-circular headforming portion's'55. One (if the shank'portions as 53 is cut slightly into' the head-as indicated at 56. The perg'tion 52 isfben'tinto'a wide loop with the shank *portiori's'53-54brought'into contact as shown in struction. :As there shown teach :of the rsubstantially zsemiscircul-ar head; portions 5.51am cupped :downwardlywto .formran upper :curved :surface 57 with the i curvededges 5.8101? themembers i a lying intaltommon:nlane. T'hdcuts 5s form;;a:r.ecess-59 in one head member where the shank member 53 7 joins the'headinto whichthe projection 60 .engages, projectionffifl being formed by the bend of shank member 54. where the latter joins its head member. Normally the opposite shank and head members are held in contact by the spring of the metal in the loop as shown in Figs. 21 and 27, the engagement of projection 60 in recess preventing sidewise slippage of the shank members. Sidewise slippage of-the shank members may alternatively be prevented by pressing or stamping the shank members into an interengaging curved cross-sectional form as shown at El in Figs. 27. 28 and 29. 1

In any of the hanger forms described the key is placed in the loop by forcingthe key head 62 edgewise between the shanks of the loop and position the head members 55 on opposite sides of the opening 63 in the key head, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 26. The key head is then rocked to thread it over oneof the shanks and into the loop.

This operation has required a substantial amount of force in prior hangers of this type because the metal wire used had to be relatively heavy and stiff to withstand the abrasive and resulting distorting strains incident to the travel of a ballhead along the hanger retaining slots. By the present invention these difficulties are minimized by the use of a planar working surface at the underside of the head so that lighter material with an easier spring action may be used and less force is required to .engage a key in the loop While the headed hanger having agenei'aily planar support engaging surface has a particu lar advantage with respect to'the novel support of the present invention in that it prevents removal of the hanger by. a .camming action against i the spring actuated release, it has the general ad- :vantage'that it minimizes wear tending to widen the slots in any key support of the slotted type.

It will be understood that, while several forms of supports and hangers embodying the invention have been shown, that the invention is not limited to such preferred forms and the scope of the invention is definedby the appended claims rather than by the'foregoing description.

What I claim is: 1. A key hanger support which comprises a rigid plate, a tubular member. extending from one longitudinal edge of the plate and overlying at least a portion of the plate, said tubular member being formed witha plurality'of slots, each of I said slots having an enlarged escape opening, a bar positioned inside of the tubular member and having a spring connectionwith-the plate,.por-

tions of said bar normally blocking, said. escape openings, a portion of the bar extending" outwardly of one end of theftube, said .bar being movable within the tube. in the direction oithe other end thereof against the resistanceof said spring connection to unblock the escape openings,

a finger grip carried by the bar outwardly of the endof the tube, a second finger grip carried by the plate at the opposite end of the tube, each of said grips being spaced from the end of the tube a distance substantially equal to the extent'of endwise movement of the bar- 2. A one piece key hanger support which comprises a rigid plate member, a bar member and spaced slot-forming members integrally connecting said plate and bar member and forming a spring connection between the two, the space between said slot forming members being .increased at one point to form an escape opening,

and position the bar said slot-forming members being-bent to form a generally tubular-member inside of the tube with a portion of the bar member blocking said escape openings and held in blocking position by the spring of the slot-form ingmembers, a portion of the bar' extending outwardly of the tube, said extending portion forming means for the application of force to the bar to move the latter endwise against the spring resistance of the spaced slot forming members and unblock the escape opening.

3.'A one piece key hanger support which comprises a rigid plate member, a bar member and spaced slot-forming members integrally connecting the plate and bar members and forming a spring connection between the two, the spacing of said slot-forming members being increased at one point to form an escape opening, said slot forming members being'bent to form a generally tubular member and position the bar member inside of the tube with a portion of the bar member blocking said escape opening and held in blocking position by the spring of the slot forming members, a. portion of the plate member extending outwardly beyond one end of the tube and bent to form a finger grip spaced from the adjacent end of the bar member, the opposite end of the bar member having a portion extending endwise from the tube and bent to form a second finger grip spaced from the adjacent end of the tube. I

l. Acne piece key hanger support which comprisesla. rigid plate member, a bar member and spaced slot-forming members integrally connecting the plate and bar members and forming a spring connection between the two, the spacing of said slot-forming members beingincreased at one point to form an escape opening, saidslot forming members being bent to form a generally tubular member and position the bar member inside of thetube with a portion of the bar member blocking said escape opening and held in blocking position by the spring of the slot forming members, a portion of the plate member extending outwardly beyond one end of the tube and bent to form a finger gri spaced from the adjacent end of the bar member, the opposite end of the bar member having, a portion extending endwise from the tube and bent to form a second finger grip spaced from the adjacent end of the tube, a cam finger carried by the end of the tube adjacent the first finger grip and bent inwardly to form an inclinedcam face, a second cam finger carried by the bar adjacent'the second finger grip and bent outwardly to form an inclined cam face, said cam faces being respectively engageable by the adjacent end of the bar and the adjacent end of the tube, when the bar is moved longitudinally of the tube by pinching pressure applied to the finger grips.

5; A key hanger comprising a strip of metal having the portions intermediate its end portions bent into the form of a key supporting loop, the portions adjacent its ends being brought together to form a .shank, the extreme end portions being bent outwardly and shaped to 3 form an enlarged head having a generally convex top surface, the under surface adjacent to and presented toward the shank being generally concave, the shank forming portions being transversely bent adjacent the head to provide interengaging portions.

7. A key hanger comprising a fiat strip of metal having the portions intermediate its end portions bent into the form of a key supporting loop, the portions adjacent its ends being brought together to form a shank, the extreme end portions being bent outwardly and shaped to form an enlarged head having a generally convex top surface, the under surface adjacent to and presented toward the shank being generally concave, the shank forming portions being longitudinally bent to provide interengaging portions. 7

8,. A key hanger support which comprises a rigid plate, a tubular member extending from one longitudinal edge of the plate, said tubular member being provided with a plurality of slots, each of said slots having an enlarged escape I opening, a bar positioned inside of the tubular member for movement longitudinally of the tube and having a spring connection with the plate, portions of said bar normally blocking said escape opening, said blocking portions presenting an edge toward the center of the escape opening engageable by a key hanger to move the bar within the tube against the resistance of said spring connection and admit the hanger into the adjacent slot.

9. A key hanger support which comprises a plate member, a generally tubular member extending from one longitudinal edge thereof, said tubular member overlying at least a portion of said plate member and being provided with a transverse slot, said slot being enlarged at one point, a bar member positioned within said tubular member and having one end extending outwardly thereof, said end being provided with a finger grip, said bar member being movable from a position in which said grip is spaced from the adjacent end of the tubular member to a position in which said grip contacts said end of the tubular member, said bar member being resiliently connected to said plate to be normally held in said first position, said bar member having a portion which closes said enlarged portion of the slot when the bar member is in said first position and opens said enlarged portion of the slot when the bar is in said second position, and a second finger grip extending from said plate member adjacent the opposite 10 end of the tube from the first-mentioned finger grip.

10. A key hanger support which comprises a plate member including a tubular portion provided with a transverse slot, said slot being enlarged at one point to form an escape opening, a barmember slidably positioned within said tubular member and having a spring connection with the plate, said spring connection normally. maintaining one portion of the bar outwardly of the tubular member and another portion of said bar in a position'blocking said escape opening, coaxially arranged finger engaging surfaces positioned at opposite ends of the tubular member one being rigid withrespect, to the tubular member and the other carried by and movable with said bar, whereby a pinching action applied to said finger engaging surfaces will move the outwardly extending portion of said bar inwardly of the tube and said blocking portion of the bar free of the escape opening, against the action of said spring connection.

11. A key hanger as defined in claim 10 in which the said rigid finger engaging surface is carried by a gripping member extending from the plate member and having a tongue extending therefrom inwardly of said tubular portion, an ear extending at right angles from the ad-. jacent end of the bar, said ear being formed with an opening within which the free end portion of said tongue engages, and a coiled spring supported on the tongue between said ear and said gripping member and forming the spring connection between said bar and said plate.

ROBERT P. HARVEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,598,207 Lorber Aug. 31, 1926 1,908,846 Howe May 16, 1933 2,038,070 Welch Apr. 21, 1936 2,093,326 Legat Sept. 14, 1937 2,114,172 ,Boden Apr. 12, 1938 2,201,833 Koelling May 21, 1940 2,201,850 Dawson, Jr May 21, 1940 2,342,078 Jones Feb. 15, 1944 2,348,947 Zarowin May 16, 1944 2,351,205 Harvey June 13, 1944 2,401,753 Geller June 11, 1946 2,407,153 Hanna Sept. 3, 1946 

